4 receive Global War on Terrorism medals

Published: Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 07:33 PM.

The U.S. military forces had been at the base for a number of years, so it was his job to help ensure a “responsible drawdown.”

Based on his background as an engineer, Cox was the base’s director of public works, but his primary work consisted of helping the commanders and planning the transition, he said.

The goal was to make sure the bases were in “appropriate order” and environmental conditions were being kept up to the best extent possible, Cox said.

Cox and the others weren’t the only civilians in Iraq. The U.S. Department of Defense sent plenty of civilians to assist at the forward operating bases during the drawdown, Cox said.

While he was there, things were tough. Nine soldiers were killed, which Cox found distressing. And the living conditions were difficult.

“Conditions were fairly austere, but they were certainly better at our base than they were at some others. … Depending on where you are, you might be in a tent or you could be in what they call a containerized housing unit,” he said.

The containerized housing units looked like a metal mobile home that could fit on the back of a semi-truck.

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY PANAMA CITY — Four civilian employees at the Navy base have bagged medals for their efforts in the war on terrorism.

They received the Secretary of Defense Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) medals at a local ceremony Monday. All four work at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD), a tenant at the Navy base in Panama City Beach.

The recipients are Richard Brown of Panama City Beach, Bradley Collie of Fresno, Calif., Mike Cox of Santa Rosa Beach and Thomas English, from Fairview Park, Ohio. All four did time in Afghanistan and Iraq between 2010 and 2012.

“It’s fairly rare, especially for a civilian,” said Dan Broadstreet, NSWC PCD spokesman, adding, “For us to have four [medal recipients] in one command, we’re extremely proud of these individuals.”

The honor is given out for “exemplary” work, Broadstreet said.

Cox, 55, spent a year in Al Kut, Iraq, at the Contingency Operating Base Delta. He was there from November 2010 to October 2011 through the civilian expeditionary workforce program run by the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Cox said he was there to help with the military drawdown in Iraq. In 2010, the troop limit was at 50,000 and receding by the day.

“Our primary job was to assist the command with the planning and transition of the base that we were at to the government of Iraq,” Cox said. “This was a transition process.”

The U.S. military forces had been at the base for a number of years, so it was his job to help ensure a “responsible drawdown.”

Based on his background as an engineer, Cox was the base’s director of public works, but his primary work consisted of helping the commanders and planning the transition, he said.

The goal was to make sure the bases were in “appropriate order” and environmental conditions were being kept up to the best extent possible, Cox said.

Cox and the others weren’t the only civilians in Iraq. The U.S. Department of Defense sent plenty of civilians to assist at the forward operating bases during the drawdown, Cox said.

While he was there, things were tough. Nine soldiers were killed, which Cox found distressing. And the living conditions were difficult.

“Conditions were fairly austere, but they were certainly better at our base than they were at some others. … Depending on where you are, you might be in a tent or you could be in what they call a containerized housing unit,” he said.

The containerized housing units looked like a metal mobile home that could fit on the back of a semi-truck.

But, Cox was pleased he had the chance to help.

“I was honored to be there,” he said. “This was all about supporting our troops, helping them to the extent we can, helping them come home.”

Cox also got a chance to work with the Iraqis in the takeover, which he said was a “very interesting experience.”

The other three award winners were not available to comment Thursday, but NSWC PCD released a statement on their exploits.

Brown went to Afghanistan in 2012, putting his engineering talents to good use at a forward operating base there. Between August and November 2012, Collie gave metal detector training program for more than 400 military personnel. And between August 2010 and September 2011, English was in the U.S. Air Force headquarters in Afghanistan as a theater systems safety manager.

“These men worked side by side with our nation’s fighting forces in theater to troubleshoot technical problems, deliver real-time solutions and determine future technical requirements for those on the front lines,” said NSWC PCD Commanding Officer Capt. Scott Pratt, USN. “This medal represents our nation’s deep gratitude for their selfless dedication and further demonstrates the intellectual capital and technical rigor that resides here at NSWC PCD.”

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